New Delhi – The Norwegian Prime Minister on Monday said that India and Pakistan can mutually sort out the Kashmir issue without the help from outside.
Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg commented on Kashmir issue in Delhi that, “Both India and Pakistan are big enough countries…They can decrease tension between them without help from outside.”
She also made a mention about the controversial visit of the former Prime Minister of Norway – Kjell Magne Bondevik – to Kashmir.
“When it comes to his visit, he went as a private citizen. He has an institute for peace and security. It is a private institute in Norway. He
was invited. Our government’s policy is clear—if we are going to help someone, they have to ask for it,” Solberg said.
However, India’s External Affairs Minister, Shushma Swaraj explained that Indian Government didn’t organize Bondevik’s visit to Kashmir in November 2018.
Bondevik had paid a ‘surprise’ visit to the state and met top separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.
Solberg is on a three-day visit to India from January 7to 9, and she is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue.